GADA, a gender and development organisation in Cross River State, has warned university students against human trafficking schemes disguised as attractive job offers, scholarships and travel opportunities.
The organisation issued the warning during activities to mark the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Calabar.
The commemoration was held under the theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam.”
Representatives of GADA, Edet Ekpo and Glory Ene, joined officials and stakeholders from NAPTIP, the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, social welfare agencies and civil society organisations for the event.
During a sensitisation session at the University of Calabar, the GADA team explained that trafficking recruitment does not always come in the form of obvious threats or coercion. Instead, traffickers may present their schemes as genuine opportunities capable of attracting unsuspecting young people.
The organisation specifically cautioned students about seemingly legitimate offers involving scholarships, employment and travel, urging them to carefully verify the identities and credibility of the individuals or organisations behind such opportunities before accepting them.
GADA introduced students to a three-step approach for handling suspicious offers: “Pause. Verify. Report.”
The sensitisation focused particularly on female hostels, amid concerns that young women are often targeted by traffickers.
Students were also encouraged to share the information with their coursemates, friends and family members to help increase awareness of trafficking recruitment tactics and strengthen vigilance within their communities.
The planned awareness walk from Millennium Park was disrupted by persistent rainfall, forcing organisers to move the engagement to the University of Calabar.
The university’s ongoing examination period also affected attendance, as fewer students were available to participate in the sensitisation exercise. As a result, the organisers conducted the engagement within a shorter period.
Despite the challenges, GADA said the direct interaction with students provided an opportunity to educate a key demographic on how to identify deceptive recruitment offers and take steps to avoid falling victim to human trafficking.
The GADA team later participated in a state-level security summit held at the Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar, where stakeholders continued discussions on trafficking prevention and public awareness.
The organisation said the activities further demonstrated its commitment to supporting efforts aimed at preventing human trafficking and strengthening awareness of exploitation risks across Cross River State.